from NJABULO MKHIZE in Port ElizabethPORT ELIZABETH, (CAJ News) – ISUZU is poised to entrench its presence in Zimbabwe, one of its biggest export markets in Africa.

This follows Zimbabwe Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu, visiting the Isuzu Motors South Africa’s production facility in Port Elizabeth.

The first visit by a Zimbabwean dignitary to Isuzu in Struandale comes on the back of an excellent year of Isuzu bakkie sales in Zimbabwe.

As the second biggest export market of Isuzu Motors South Africa, Zimbabwe accounts for approximately 27 percent of all African exports, said Isuzu Motors South Africa Executive: Corporate Affairs, Business Strategy and Legal, Denise van Huyssteen.

He welcomed the minister’s visit and the opportunity to showcase Isuzu’s capabilities in truck and light commercial vehicle production.

“Isuzu is an established brand in Zimbabwe. As the country embarks on infrastructure development, we are able to offer innovative solutions to meet their needs,” said van Huyssteen.

Isuzu has been a consistent strong brand in Zimbabwe, achieving a 25 percent overall market share in 2018.

Isuzu held a 35 percent share of the pick-up (bakkie) segment and was the best seller in the Double Cab and Extended Cab segments in 2018.

The auto firm has had a presence in Zimbabwe for more than 30 years – selling bakkies, SUV’s, trucks and buses in the market.

“We value our relationships with all our Zimbabwean customers and see ourselves as a brand that can offer products and services that will meet their needs throughout their life-time,” said Van Huyssteen.

A big part of the presence is due to the success story of Isuzu’s Zimbabwe authorised dealership, Autoworld.

Autoworld has been Isuzu’s number one export dealer for more than ten years and has facilities in both Harare and Bulawayo employing more than 150 people.

It is involved in various community projects and sponsors one of Zimbabwe’s top rugby clubs.

According to the company, at the new location are skilled sales and service personnel to serve expert advice to customers, while highly trained technicians take care of their vehicles in the store’s seven fitment and three alignment bays.

by AKANI CHAUKEJOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – ANALYSTS are wary of one of the most critical weeks in the South African economic calendar culminating in downgrades by international rating agencies on the back of serious problems afflicting the national power utility.

Problems have been mounting at the beleaguered electricity parastatal, Eskom, resulting in recurrent blackouts across Africa’s most advanced economy.

The problems at Eskom are expected to determine Moody’s all-important ratings review on Friday.

ABSA’s economists projected the agency was more likely than not to assign a Negative outlook to South Africa’s Baa3 rating or to formally put the rating under review for a downgrade.

In the wake of the 2019 Budget, ABSA had assessed the probabilities of each to be 40 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

Consequently, ABSA believes the probabilities of some negative
announcement from Moody’s on its rating have risen slightly.

“…although we do not think that Moody’s will actually implement a
downgrade at this stage, preferring instead to wait a little to assess
whether the government can stabilise Eskom and to assess the lay of the land after the elections on 8 May.”

Nema Ramkhelawan-Bhana, the Head of Rand Merchant Bank Global Research, said the decision by Moody’s was “far more touch-and-go” as market participants continued to debate whether South Africa’s metrics had deteriorated enough to warrant a downgrade in its sovereign outlook.

“On the face of it, it would seem that our fate is sealed, especially if
we consider February’s budget outcomes and Eskom’s apparent unravelling,” she stated.

Ramkhelawan-Bhana nonetheless said there were indications that Moody’s was more forgiving of our shortcomings and might grant South Africa a reprieve, at least in the short term, to allow structural reforms to take hold.

“What’s clear is that the market is coloured with ambiguity, which should translate into thinner flows, particularly into SA’s local bond market,” she said.

Other highlights of the week include the South African Reserve Bank
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unveiling its interest rate decision and Statistics South Africa’s release the February Producer Price Index (PPI) data for February.

“Brace yourself, it’s going to be a bumpy ride as South Africa encounters one of the most crucial weeks in its economic calendar this year,” ABSA stated.

SARB’s gross domestic product growth forecast is currently 1,7 percent for 2019 and Consumer Price Index at 4,8 percent for the year.

from MASAHUDU KUNATEH in Accra, GhanaACCRA, (CAJ News) – JAPANESE global automaker, Nissan, will within the next nine months establish an assembling plant in Ghana.

The company plans to turn the country into its West Africa sales hub following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the government on Tuesday.

“Building vehicles in Ghana will enable us to further improve the products and services we offer to our customers here and will have significant, long-term benefits for the economy in terms of jobs and growth,” Mike Whitfield, Managing Director of Nissan Group of Africa, said in the capital Accra.

“We want to build on our leadership by supporting the government to create the environment for a successful automotive manufacturing industry in the country,” Whitfield said.

Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, Ghana Minister of Trade and Industry, who signed on behalf of the government, said the agreement was in line with government efforts to diversify the country’s economic and to create jobs.

“We welcome this MoU and commit ourselves in turn to working with Nissan to create the necessary environment for the level of investment that will make Ghana’s automotive sector a reality,” the minister added.

Nissan is the biggest car retailer in Ghana with a 32,8 percent market share.

Recently, German carmaker, Volkswagen (VW) and China’s Sinotruk also signed MoU to build plants in Ghana.

Vehicle sales in Ghana have been growing steadily at an annual rate of about 10 percent to now stand at about 9,150 vehicles a year.

From RUSSELL ADADEVOH in Accra, GhanaACCRA, (CAJ News) – VOLKSWAGEN is to establish a vehicle assembly facility and assess the feasibility of a modern Mobility Concept for Ghana, as part of its expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The first locally assembled vehicles are planned to be on local streets in early 2019.

Volkswagen has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghanaian government, which would pave away for developing a fully-fledged sales and service network as well as establishing a Training Academy for Production and After Sales in the West African country.

Thomas Schaefer, Head of the Sub-Saharan Region and the Honorable Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerenmaten of Ghana has signed the MOU in the presence of Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany and Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana Vice-President.

Volkswagen undertook to commence with a feasibility study for an integrated mobility solution which will include a review of the commercial viability of introducing car sharing, ride hailing and shuttle services by way of a Ghanaian subsidiary of VWSA, or the appointment of a local service provider.

In turn, the Ghanaian Government undertook to develop a comprehensive Automotive Industry Policy which will incentivise and facilitate vehicle manufacturing and assembly in Ghana.

This includes a preferential procurement policy for locally assembled vehicles.

Schaefer welcomed the determination and desire of the Ghanaian Government to develop a motor industry.

As the second biggest economy in West Africa, Ghana is the ideal next building block in our Sub-Saharan Africa development strategy, he added.

The realisation of the MOU should see Volkswagen assembly locations increase to five.

Other locations are in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria.

“Our long term commitment to this region is real and sustainable. We believe that our committed actions and delivery of the last two years are proof of this,” Schaefer said.

Although the African automotive market is comparatively small today, the region could develop into an automotive growth market of the future, according to Volkswagen.

Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana President, said the country was committed to developing a modern automotive and vehicle assembly industry as one of the new strategic anchor industries, which is part of Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda.

“This joint enterprise between our two countries opens a new chapter in Ghana-German relations, which would further strengthen the long-standing bonds of friendship and commercial engagement between Ghana and Germany,” Akufo-Addo said.– CAJ News

by AKANI CHAUKEJOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE academic exploits of some South African students backed by a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions have been celebrated.

The top ten achievers of the initiative by MiX Telematics were celebrated at the company’s offices in Midrand.

They attained outstanding results, with the highest average achieved from one of the pupils was an impressive 90 percent, with four pupils achieving 80 percent to 89 percent and five pupils achieving an average of 75 percent to 79 percent respectively.

The MiX Telematics Enterprise BEE Trust subsidises the education of these top achievers, from the Employee Education Fund.

It was founded in 2013 and provides educational assistance to qualifying MiX employees who cannot afford quality education for their children. The fund makes provision for tuition fees, stationery, transport, school uniforms and, in certain instances, boarding fees.

Unlike most bursaries or educational assistance programs, this fund not only focuses on high school students, but is specifically aimed at assisting students from as early as possible in their school careers.

Bathandwa Kwababa, chairperson of the Trust, said investing in staff and their children was core to the company culture.

“Through the Trust, we are able to not only offer tuition funding but also provide careful educational support, in order to enable these students to be the best that they can be,” Kwababa said.

Kwababa said the end goal was to see the MiX Employee Education Fund being utilised by as many staff members as possible.

The executive said the Trust had indicated that despite the fund’s accomplishments, support from across the company was always required.

“The fund has created conditions under which only the best performing learners can emerge – which has only attracted more applicants, keen to prove that they have what it takes.”– CAJ News

by SAVIOUS KWINIKAPRETORIA, (CAJ News) – NISSAN, buoyed by its best year of sales in South Africa since 2000, has invested about R1 billion (over US$80 million) to increase the efficiency of its plant at Rosslyn in the capital Pretoria.

The investment is set to increase automation without reducing jobs, and in
training and skills development for its employees.

Nissan Managing Director for South Africa, Mike Whitfield, disclosed the
investment on Wednesday.

“Nissan is now poised to build on our success with further growth in
Africa,” said Whitfield.

Rosslyn is Nissan’s manufacturing hub for the rest of the continent where
demand is growing rapidly.

Nissan has developed its supplier base with initiatives to encourage young
black entrepreneurs to become suppliers.

The company continues to produce a high number of engineers at Rosslyn
through its graduate development programme and has been supporting South Africa employees to become master trainers by sending them to Nissan manufacturing plants across the world.

Whitfield said the global automotive industry was going through
revolutionary technological change, with electric vehicles, autonomous
driving and connectivity.

He said South Africa had the potential to lead Africa in embracing this
change, much to the growth of the economy stand to benefit.

“To do that we need to ensure that the infrastructure and support is in
place in South Africa to help build demand for these products,” Whitfield
said.

Whitfield said Africa had huge potential. He said the continent’s middle class was forecast to grow from 137 million people in 2009 to 341 million by 2030.

Nissan was the first mover to assemble cars in Nigeria, supplied from
South Africa and is now exploring new manufacturing opportunities in the
continent.

He said the automotive industry had been a driver of economic growth
around the world for a century, and Africa would be next.

“What is needed now is a conducive environment, including the further
development of free trade areas, for the continent to flourish,” Whitfield
added.

Nissan has recorded its best year of sales in South Africa in 18 years. It
has hit 10 percent market share in 2017.

To drive future growth Nissan will focus on further developing its
dealership network in South Africa with an improved customer experience
and enhanced facilities.

The company will continue to work to increase its share of the passenger
vehicle market, while maintaining its strong position in bakkies.

– CAJ News

]]>http://cajnewsafrica.com/2018/04/25/buoyant-nissan-invests-r1-billion-in-rosslyn-plant/feed/0South Africans’ grim reality of having cars repossessed http://cajnewsafrica.com/2018/04/25/south-africans-grim-reality-of-having-cars-repossessed/
http://cajnewsafrica.com/2018/04/25/south-africans-grim-reality-of-having-cars-repossessed/#commentsWed, 25 Apr 2018 06:43:24 +0000http://cajnewsafrica.com/?p=26165by GIFT NDOLWANE JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – CONSUMERS have been urged to cater for rate, fuel and maintenance fluctuations when purchasing a vehicle in order to avoid it being repossessed as they fail to keep up with payments.

Charl Potgieter, Head of Personal Markets at Absa, advised consumers to consider the full cost of vehicle ownership and always build in a buffer to cater for the fluctuations.

Potgieter said consumers purchasing used or second-hand vehicles, often out of motor plans, must consider the benefit of obtaining extended motor plans.

“If you (consumer) do not have a motor plan and the vehicle experiences an expensive mechanical fault, you will need to fund this from your own cash resources. You still need to honour your monthly vehicle instalment with the bank if your vehicle is faulty or non-operational.”

This, Potgieter said, could minimise the anguish of having to part with their vehicle if they find themselves battling or unable to pay the instalments.

Potgieter pointed out it was vital for consumers to be aware that not paying their instalments was a breach of contract and might eventually lead to the repossession of their vehicle.

“So it is important to make sure that you find a way to avoid this before it happens,” the expert said.

Potgieter said consumers were faced with increasing costs impacting their net disposable income and did not account for fuel, maintenance and even interest rate increases.

“This means that what was initially affordable for the consumer, has now become unaffordable.”

Potgieter’s tips to consumers include cutting out non-essential monthly expenses, trading in for a more affordable vehicle or refinancing their vehicle.– CAJ News

From PHYLLIS BIRORI in Kigali, Rwanda KIGALI, (CAJ News) – VOLKSWAGEN (VW) Group South Africa has started its digital mobility concept, Moving Rwanda, in the metropolitan area of the country’s capital Kigali.

Partners including German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, SAP, Siemens and Inros Lackner are jointly to implementing the concept.

Moving Rwanda connects the production of Volkswagen cars in Kigali, which will start in the near future, with a shared usage concept as well as with a training initiative for modern professions.

The concept aims at implementing environmentally friendly car sharing models with plans for the utilisation of electric cars as a further future goal.

“By doing that, we provide these young people with future prospects in their home country – as mechanics for fleet maintenance or as software developers. This is a further commitment with respect to the concrete implementation of our Marshallplan with Africa,” Müller says.

Currently more than 1 000 specialised and management personnel are being trained and provided advanced vocational training opportunities.

Among others the leading personnel of transport services in African metropolitan areas such as Accra, Addis Ababa, Lagos and Nairobi have been linked up with German experts from the fields of municipalities, the economy and science.

“Having the German Government and other German companies supporting our planned Integrated Mobility Solution for Rwanda is just reward for the team that has been working so hard on turning what was just a dream 18 months ago into a reality,” says Thomas Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director of VW South Africa.-CAJ News

from PHYLLIS BIRORI in Kigali, RwandaKIGALI, (CAJ News) – VOLKSWAGEN has commenced the rollout of its integrated automotive mobility solutions with the registration of a first-of-its-kind entity in Rwanda.

The Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda will commence operations in the second quarter of 2018 with an initial investment of US$20 million and the creation of between 500 and 1 000 jobs in Kigali.

It will house a production facility with an installed capacity for 5 000 vehicles, as well as a retail outlet and a training centre. A local software company, Awesomity Lab, has been appointed to develop the App for the mobility services.

Passat

The Volkswagen product portfolio will initially include the Hatchback Polo, the Passat, a sedan and possibly the Teramont, a large special utility vehicle.

In December 2016, Volkswagen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to conduct a detailed study to develop a business case for Volkswagen to introduce an integrated automotive mobility concept in Rwanda, which would be a first for Volkswagen worldwide.

“Our studies are complete, we believe that we have a business case that will work and we are now ready to commence with the implementation of our plans for Rwanda. In short after today there is no going back, we are now fully committed to implementing our unique integrated automotive mobility solution in Rwanda together with Rwandans,” said Thomas Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA)

VWSA is responsible for the Sub Saharan African.

VWSA chose Rwanda for the feasibility of an integrated automotive mobility solution for its political stability and zero tolerance for corruption, dynamic economic growth, young and tech savvy population and Kigali;s commitment to spearhead the smart city agenda.

“We are confident that this partnership will help create countless opportunities for young Rwandans not only in terms of employment but also in terms of skills transfer”, said Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer of the RDB.